Hudson Holiday Walk tradition continues Sunday

Published: November 27, 2012 11:46 AM

by Laura Freeman | ReporterHudson - Downtown will be decked out in all its holiday finery Dec. 2 for the annual Hudson Holiday Walk from noon to 5 p.m. Shoppers will enjoy store specials, prize drawings and gift giveaways along Main Street and at First & Main and the Acme Plaza.Visits from Santa, songs by carolers, and a live Nativity on the Clocktower Green, courtesy of Hudson First Congregational Church, will help set the holiday mood.Children can drop off letters to Santa at Keller Williams/Chervenic Realty on Main Street. They will be able to visit with Santa from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Young Actors Studio, 86 Owen Brown St.; from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Janet Rhodes Brings You Fair Trade, 134 N. Main St.; and from 4 to 6 p.m. at Green Roots Collection, 41 Village Way.Many of Hudson’s merchants participate in the event as they look for ways to give back to the community, said Janet Rhodes, owner of the Main Street fair trade store. “What I love about Hudson is the way people work together,” Rhodes said. “The Holiday Walk brings out a spirit of giving and reaching out to others even as we thoroughly enjoy the holidays ourselves.”Groups of carolers and musicians will entertain shoppers with holiday favorites, including some from The Western Reserve Community Band and ACT... a children’s theater. The entire Hudson Girl Scout District and families will be caroling at 2 p.m. on the First & Main Green. The Holiday Walk is one of MJ Lehman’s favorite days of the year.“We have so many fun things planned,” said the owner of Nicky Nicole. “For me, it’s a great time to see different friends and customers and get together.”This year Nicky Nicole has invited its own elves, wearing costumes Lehman designed.“You can make a jingle bell necklace with them,” she said. “It gets you in the spirit.”Michelle Sahr, owner of the toy store My Little Red Wagon, said children can write letters to Santa at the store and will receive a response from Santa.All the decorations are up in downtown and in the stores, making everything festive, she said. “We enjoy seeing all the kids come in with their parents,” Sahr said. “People are shopping, and we’re wrapping gifts. It’s an exciting time.”Michael Freedman of Hershey’s of Hudson is looking forward to the Holiday Walk, which he says is fun for merchants and shoppers alike.“I’m really excited to have so many good things going on that day,” he said. Every household has some strain these days, and the Holiday Walk provides light fun and a good time to spend together as a family, pick up gifts and enjoy the sights, Freeman said. “Everyone gets out, and you can feel Christmas in the air,” he said.For more information, visit www.merchantsofhudson.com.